Stuck in a reading rut? Want to expand your reading horizons in 2026? You’re in luck! Every month this year, we will be delving deep into popular genres at the library. If you’re already a fan, find readalike suggestions for popular authors and ideas for similar genres to explore. If you’re brand new to the genre in question, you will find a helpful explanation of the hallmarks of the genre, a breakdown of its most common subgenres, and explanations of what readers find so appealing about the most popular authors writing those types of books. Let’s explore historical fiction for July as we’re making history moving to our new library!
Continue reading “Exploring Genres: Historical Fiction”Tag: historical fiction (books)
Book Buzz: 19th Century Maine, Christmas Miracles, and the Joys of Being Crafty
Continue reading “Book Buzz: 19th Century Maine, Christmas Miracles, and the Joys of Being Crafty”
Book Buzz: African Magical Realism, Monstrous YA, and Ozark Reminiscences
Every month, we’re profiling new-ish releases that are getting critical and commercial buzz. For October, we’re looking at a family epic tinged with magical realism, a YA novel perfect for Halloween, and a good-natured memoir about life on the Lake of the Ozarks in the 1960s.
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Book Buzz: Wizard of Oz Fan Fiction,Terrible Children’s Stories, and Slime
Every month, we’re profiling new-ish releases that are getting critical and commercial buzz. For September, we’re looking at a fictional behind-the-scenes look of a Hollywood classic, a zany but clever graphic novel for kids, and a book about slime (no, really).
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Book Buzz: Neurotics Broadening Their Horizons, 19th Century Frontier Romances, Real-Life WWII Partisans
Every month, we’re profiling new-ish releases that are getting critical and commercial buzz. For August, we’re looking at a surprisingly sweet romance, a trilogy of historical romances set in 19th century Oklahoma, and a history of British secret operations in France during WWII.
Old Favorites: Larry McMurtry
We’re focusing on newer books, movies, and television shows for 2019, but that doesn’t mean we’re entirely ignoring old favorites! After all, what’s that saying–what’s old may just become new again (or something like that)?
Larry McMurtry celebrated his 83rd birthday earlier this month. Anyone who’s known me any length of time knows I’m a big Lonesome Dove fan. But there is a lot more to McMurtry’s work than that series, great as it is on its own, or even just his Western novels. And if you’re interested in exploring more of his work, well, the library has you covered. . . .
Book Buzz: Aquatic Friendships, Austen in Pakistan, and a Magician’s Secrets
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Book Buzz: Ack Ack Romance, Planting by the Signs, and Gamer Trivia
Every month, we’re profiling new-ish releases that are getting critical and commercial buzz. For March, we’re looking at a historical romance set during World War II, a classic farming almanac, and a not so-classic spin on a classic book of records.
Continue reading “Book Buzz: Ack Ack Romance, Planting by the Signs, and Gamer Trivia”
Exploring Other Worlds in Literature
The Great American Read‘s most wide-ranging episode is undoubtedly its October 16th “Other Worlds” episode. The selections include historical fiction, fantasy, dystopian fiction, and science fiction.
In the process, it asks viewers what is their favorite type of “other world” to escape into through literature. Do you prefer to dive into the past with historical fiction or travel to foreign countries or venture into outer space or even transport yourself to other worlds entirely?
Other Worlds voting bracket
Voting for the Great Berryville Read continues this week with a new category! It is the last one. Next week will be the final round!
Welcome to Bracket #5 – Great Berryville Read Other Worlds Edition. Next week on Tuesday, October 15th, the Great American Read episode is all about the “other places” literature can take you.
This episode focuses on books that transport you far into the past, way into the distant future, and even into actual other worlds. We’ve assembled a bracket that requires you, gentle reader, to pick your favorites and decide which of these 16 books should advance to the next round of the Great Berryville Read voting.
Berryville Book Buzz 